Evaluating Common-View Time Transfer Using a Low-Cost Dual-Frequency GNSS Receiver

Aidan A. Montare, Andrew N. Novick, Jeff A. Sherman

Abstract:	Common-view time transfer can be performed using either single (L1) or dual (L1/L2 or L1/L5) frequency global navigation satellite system (GNSS) signals. Using dual-frequency receivers for common-view has advantages but has historically been of significantly higher cost. In this work we evaluate the performance of a common-view time transfer system based on a new low-cost dual-frequency GNSS receiver. The receiver features built-in time-tagging capabilities, reducing overall system cost by eliminating separate time interval counter (TIC) hardware. We compare this system to an existing common-view system that uses an external TIC and a single-frequency receiver. Based on prior work, we expect short-baseline common-clock measurements to have a time deviation evaluated at 1 day of less than 1 ns and that the increased short-term noise of integrated time-tagging functionality versus a dedicated TIC will become inconsequential at averaging intervals of 5 min or more. We compare the systems in terms of both position determination and time transfer performance, including diurnal variations. We also compare integrated versus separate TIC functionalities. We evaluate time transfer performance in a variety of scenarios, including common-antenna common-clock, short baseline common-clock, and longer baselines with different clocks. In these experiments, we aim to demonstrate that modern systems can achieve equivalent performance at lower cost, providing a robust foundation for future measurements.
Published in:	Proceedings of the 55th Annual Precise Time and Time Interval Systems and Applications Meeting January 22 - 25, 2024 Hyatt Regency Long Beach Long Beach, California
Pages:	127 - 135
Cite this article:	Montare, Aidan A., Novick, Andrew N., Sherman, Jeff A., "Evaluating Common-View Time Transfer Using a Low-Cost Dual-Frequency GNSS Receiver," Proceedings of the 55th Annual Precise Time and Time Interval Systems and Applications Meeting, Long Beach, California, January 2024, pp. 127-135. https://doi.org/10.33012/2024.19586
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